Dear Partners in Education,

The Office of Indian Education (OIE) strives to meet the educational and cultural needs of Native American students across Arizona. With bi-weekly highlights, our goal is to share valuable resources and highlight meaningful opportunities that may benefit Indigenous communities and educators.

Sincerely,

The Office of Indian Education | indianeducation@azed.gov | www.azed.gov/oie

Monday, January 26 – Learn about AZ Tribal Consultation and Exceptional Student Services.

Monday, February 23 – Hear updates about state and national policies affecting Native American education.

From 10-11am MST. Visit website for information and register for the Zoom event!

New Name: After January, the P&P webinar will be renamed to OIE Connect!

Friday, February 20, 2026 from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Registration ($50) is now open! For AZ parents, guardians, and education partners who want to learn about the Johnson O’Malley Program, parent committee roles and responsibilities, by-laws, advocacy strategies, and more. Space is limited, visit website for details.

September 8-10, 2026 in Phoenix, AZ at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. Registration is now open! Call for session proposals will open on February 2, 2026. Open to educators, administrators, tribal education staff, education programs and organizations, and parents/caregivers. We hope to see you there!

The Phoenix Indian Center presents a College Readiness Workshop and a FAFSA Workshop!

• The College Readiness Workshop is a virtual event for high schools students on February 24 and March 3, 2026, virtual on Zoom from 5:30-7pm. Attend one or both events. Open to all Native American high school students. Visit website to register.
• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Workshop is open to Native American high school seniors and parent/guardian on February 26, 2026 from 5:30-7pm. Receive step-by-step support. Register online to save your spot.

Questions, email lcolon@phxindcenter.org.

Arizona nominations needed for the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award! Includes all-expense paid trip to New Orleans and participation in leadership activities. This honor recognizes outstanding middle and high school students who demonstrate leadership, service, civic engagement, and perseverance in their schools or communities. One student is selected from each state. Open to 8-12th students in public, private, parochial, or home schools. Nomination deadline is February 1, 2026. Visit website to submit nominations.

The National Geographic Society invites 13-18 year olds to participate in Slingshot Challenge by submitting 60 second video about their ideas to make an impact on environmental issues in their community, for a chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding! Find out more on their website. Submissions are due by February 6, 2026.

Don’t forget to remind students that applications are now open and closing soon for 2026 summer programs or camps! Many programs are free and target low-income or underrepresented communities.

College Horizons – Due January 28, 2026

TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy – Due February 4, 2026

JB Math Science Honors Program (ASU) – Due February 17, 2026.

Girls Who Code Pathways Program (virtual) – Due February 25, 2026 (early deadline)

Summer Engineering Academy (U of AZ) – Application opens February 23, 2026.

Native American Science & Engineering Program (U of AZ) – rolling deadline, until filled.

By popular demand, we will compile financial aid resources and update periodically! Click below to view a list of scholarships!

The OIE Indigenous STEM Project (ISP) aims to equip PreK-12 educators with relevant, research-based professional learning focused on culturally responsive STEM education. This project will empower educators to integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in ways that honor Indigenous knowledge systems and traditions.

• On-Demand STEM Webinar – Opens February 25, 2026 (self-paced)
• STEM Professional’s Panel – March 11, 2026
• STEM Symposium – April 2, 2026 at AZ Science Center, Phoenix, AZ

All events are free. Registration is required. Stay tuned for a special email announcing registration details and presenter information!

ADE’s Office of Arts Education is hosting a statewide arts festival in celebration of Youth Arts Month on March 31st, 2026, at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza beginning at 9 am. ADE YAM Fest will shine a spotlight on student creativity and the value of arts education, showcasing performances and artwork by students across our great state. District, private and charter school staff are encouraged to submit a visual art piece or performance ensemble to be featured at the festival. Don’t miss this opportunity! Visit the ADE YAM Fest website for details.

Data Science is one of leading careers according to the U.S. Labor and Statistics Bureau and growing in K-12 classrooms. This pathway will support 30 6th-12th teachers and is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to teach data science and implement engaging lessons and authentic data experiences in the classroom. Open to 6th-12th educators in any content area. Must be available for 3 day in-person summer session and monthly virtual convenings, and able to implement lessons through 26-27 school year. $1000 stipend available. Applications are due by March 30, 2026.

Course Dates: July 8-10, 2026 for introductory level or June 22-24, 2026 for intermediate level. at Ponderosa High School (Flagstaff). Questions, contact lirby@coconino.az.gov.

The YMHFA learning opportunities fulfill suicide prevention training requirements. This course covers common mental health challenges including anxiety and depression, substance abuse and more. The live virtual training is 5 hours. Visit website for more information. To register a group or schedule a LEA or site specific session, email serena.lobo@azed.gov.

Applications are now open and space is limited! NAU’s Preparing Indigenous Teachers for AZ Schools (PITAS) program has two cohort options: Early Childhood/Special Education (BSEd)and Elementary Education (BSEd or MEd). Classes are on Zoom two evenings per week and participants receive personalized mentoring and support. Receive 100% tuition and fee coverage, stipend, laptop, and textbooks. Must be a citizen of a tribal nation, working as a paraprofessional or educational staff/substitute in Native-serving schools and not yet a certified teacher. Questions, email Sig at sig.boloz@nau.edu. To learn more, visit website.

Calling high school college counselors/advisors who serve underrepresented populations! The Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling provides scholarships to help cover registration fees and travel expenses for the following PD opportunities: RMACAC Annual Conference, (April 2026), NACAC Guiding the Way to Impact Conference (Summer 2026), NACAC Professional Certificate, and more. Visit website to learn more. Apply, or nominate someone today!

SRP offers classroom grants in STEM, History, and Social Science to enable teachers to develop projects and programs geared toward state-mandated competencies. Up to $5,000 is awarded per eligible school. Visit website to learn more about eligibility, applications due February 15, 2026.

AZ Reads provides support for literacy programs led by AZ schools, K-12 institutions, and community libraries that serve youth by providing humanities-based literacy programs. Books, supplies, author visits, and more are provided (up to $2000)! Applications open January 15 and close March 15, 2026. The funding period is June 2026 to May 2027. Join a Q&A session on February 10, 2026. View website for details and application!

Do you love History? Want to help your students know how to research and create historical arguments? The AZ Historical Society has upcoming 2026 professional development workshops on January 24th in Tempe, February 7th in Flagstaff, and March 28th in Tucson. Travel stipend and hotel accommodations available. If interested in attending, email education@azhs.gov, or complete interest form.

Upcoming opportunities for educators to review and prepare successful implementation. Learn about resources, evaluation tools, alignment, and more.

February 23, March 4, or March 23, 2026. View flyer and register in APLD for more information.

The toolkit provides research, recommendations, and resources for wearing tribal regalia at commencement ceremonies. It is a legal right as tribal members to wear tribal regalia and items of cultural significance to school promotions and graduations under Arizona Revised Statute 15-348. As students and families prepare for spring graduations, please consult the toolkits for guidance. Click the images below to view, or visit website for information.

This event brings together Japanese American camp survivors, their descendants, members of the Gila River Indian Community, students, and allies to honor the history of Japanese American and Native American communities.

February 19, 2026 – 6:30pm-9:30pm includes film screening, panel, and community reception.

February 20, 2026 – 1pm-4pm includes panel discussion, lecture, and community reception. Both events are free and open to the public, and held at Huhugam Heritage Center. Visit website for more information, or email gilariverconnections@gmail.com.

Join monthly webinars from the Winslow Indian Health Care Center from 10am-11am (MST). Topics include Social Emotional Learning: Early Childhood, Emotional Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Media Safety. Visit website to register.

A free Question Persuade Refer (QPR) training is available on January 8, 2026 from 12pm-1:30pm virtually on Zoom. This is a brief educational program designed to teach “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to help. Open to everyone! Click here to register and receive Zoom link information.

Call for nominations are open, applications are due February 27, 2026. The Bureau of Indian Education’s Advisory Board for Exceptional Children aims to enhance special education and related services for children with disabilities within the BIE school system. Submit nomination form, or visit website to learn about the board. Questions, email Jennifer at Jennifer.Davis@bie.edu.

February 7, 2026 at ASU Tempe or March 7, 2026 at Glendale Community College. Both from 9:30am to 1:30pm. This is a half day conference for young adults who are in foster care and who are either currently in high school, persuing their GED, or have recently graduated but have not yet enrolled in college. Attendees will learn about multiple post-secondary opportunities.View flyer for more information.

229 days until the 2026 OIE Annual Summit!

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